'First Supper' to launch new Centre for Living Christianity

'First Supper' to launch new Centre for Living Christianity

By staff writers

October 5, 2012

The newly-formed Centre for Living Christianity, based in Edinburgh, Scotland, is launching this weekend with a 'First Supper' event.

The newly-formed Centre for Living Christianity, dubbed CLiC for short, is launching in Edinburgh this weekend with an informal social event reflecting what it calls its “relaxed but thoughtful” approach to exploring religious faith in a sceptical age.

CLiC’s ‘First Supper’, from 7 to 8.30pm on Sunday 7 October 2012, takes place at Henderson’s Café at St John’s Church, located at the corner of Princes Street and Lothian Road, in the heart of the Scottish capital.

There will be food and refreshments, plus an opportunity to hear about the vision and plans for the new initiative, which describes itself as “exploring faith at the crossroads.”

The event's name is a counterpoint to the famous 'Last Supper' that Jesus Christ shared with his friends and followers the night before he faced trial and death, and the meal Christians share to participate in his risen life.

The Centre for Living Christianity will have its main base at St John’s, a high-profile Anglican church in Edinburgh which has also been the venue for the annual Festival of Spirituality and Peace for the past twelve years.

The venture has been founded by a range of organisations, including Edinburgh City Centre Churches Together, the religion and society think-tank Ekklesia, the Cornerstone Bookshop, and the Episcopal Diocese of Edinburgh’s Adventures in Faith programme, alongside St John’s.

CLiC is open to people of all backgrounds and traditions, its organisers stress. Its low-cost events will run from a number of locations and will involve socialising and reflection, as well as thinking, discussion and exploration.

The Centre for Living Christianity aims to take traditional faith very seriously, but in an open and engaging way that recognises the fears and doubts many people have about 'organised religion' and unthinking dogmatism.

“CLiC is for those interested in exploring how to live out Christianity in the modern world, in a way which is thoughtful and faithful,” says the Rev Donald Reid. “It is about how to understand Christianity from the margins of a society which is both diversely spiritual and secular.”

The ‘First Supper’ at 7pm on Sunday 7 October is open to all. There will be a charge of £5 to help cover costs. Those planning to attend are asked to drop a note to: donald.reid@stjohns-edinburgh.org.uk[2]

[Ekk/3]

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